Photoshop Elements 5: The Missing Manual

Chapter 19: Beyond the Basics 477

Beyond This Book

When You Really Need Photoshop

You can do an enormous amount with just Elements, but some people do need the

full version of Photoshop. For example, if you need the ability to write your own

actions (actions are little scripts, like macros, that automate certain things you

might do in Photoshop) or if you need to work extensively in CMYK mode, then

you need Photoshop.

CMYK mode is the color mode used for commercial printing—it stands for Cyan,

Magenta, Yellow, and blacK, which are the colors professional printers use. When

you send a file to a print shop, they usually tell you it needs to be a CMYK file. You

can’t convert files to CMYK in Elements. If you need CMYK files on a regular

basis, it’s worth the extra price of Photoshop to avoid the aggravation. If you only

occasionally need CMYK, you might just ask your printer. Most print shops are

willing to convert the file for you for an additional charge.

NOTE Richard Lynch (www.hiddenelements.com) created a workaround for CMYK conversion

for earlier versions of Elements. You may want to check his Web site to see what he’s come up

with for Elements 5.

In Photoshop you get more of everything: more choices, more tools, more set-

tings, more types of adjustment layers, and so on.

Beyond This Book

You can do thousands of interesting things with Elements that are beyond the

scope of this book. Your bookstore ...